It's the summer that dance divas have divided Alberta. Barbadian R&B singer Rihanna graced the city with her presence (yet not Edmonton). With Gaga not playing Calgary, it's not a stretch to say that Rihanna's Last Girl On Earth tour stop may be the best pop spectacular to grace the Saddledome stage this year.

The tour concept is a visit to Rihanna's dream world, a post-apocalyptic one in which she truly is the last girl on earth.  The show was a production that rivalled the likes of Janet Jackson, Britney Spears, and Madonna. The tour is directed by Jamie King who worked with Spears and Madonna, with Jackson choreographer Tina Landon.
But first, Gym class Heroes' singer Travie McCoy, having recently released a solo album, started the evening with a brief set dedicated to "all the sexy ladies in the house." He played a few songs from Billionaire to warm up those who showed up early enough to catch him.

As Rihanna's first headlining tour, she made a wise choice in having Ke$ha open for her. Tik Tok was just as popular with the audience, who sang along to songs like Your Love Is My Drug and Take It Off. While some songs off her Animal album are cheesy (Party at a Rich Dude's House) to downright awful (Dinosaur) she has a captivating stage presence. If the opening slot is an indication, Ke$ha certainly has the chance to be headlining the Saddledome stage herself someday.

Rolling out in a long, lighting-up red and black gown, Rihanna started the show with Russian Roulette. In no time the gown was off and the revealing costumes became the theme of the evening. Flanked by shirtless guards with bright pink guns, she belted out Hard and Shut Up And Drive.

The evening continued with a number of hits - giant robotic spiders stalked her in Disturbia and dancers weaved their way through a cube in glow-in-the-dark bodysuits for Don't Stop The Music. Behind the spectacle of the stage show, Rihanna's voice was in fine form, backing up the glamour with substance.

The ballad Take a Bow wrapped the main set as the primarily female and gay male audience sang along. The best was saved for last, as she moved around stage in a black and white outfit with inflatable shoulder pads for Umbrella.